Race update after 8 hours : Six different brands in top-6 after eight hours of racing

26 July 2015

After one third of the 2015 Total 24 Hours of Spa, six different manufacturers were represented in the top-6 places. With a Mercedes, BMW, Audi, McLaren, Bentley and Lamborghini leading the race after eight hours, the competitiveness of the Blancpain Endurance Series - and the Total 24 Hours of Spa in particular - was proven once again.

Pro Cup

The final hours of Saturday saw another series of Safety Car-interventions; the first of which triggered by Andy Meyrick’s #7 M-Sport Bentley going off at Les Combes. The car was officially retired soon afterwards, which meant that the top-3 of the Blancpain Endurance Series are likely not to score many points. The #23 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN Nissan and the #1 Audi Sport Team WRT are still in the race, but in 41st and 32nd positions respectively after delays.

Still leading the race at the eight-hour mark was the #99 Rowe Racing Mercedes of Stef Dusseldorp, Nico Bastian and Daniel Juncadella. The trio had a lap advantage at a certain point of the race, but due to a different pitstop strategy that lead was reduced to some 50 seconds. The car in second was the leading BMW, the #45 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS BMW, with Maxime Martin trying to close the gap towards the leading Mercedes. The best of the Audi's was still the #35 Saintéloc Audi, with former FIA GT1 World Champion Marc Basseng driving the car into the night.

Pro-Am Cup

With Series leaders Griffin and Cameron sacrificing a part of their strategy to score full points at the six-hour mark, the #51 AF Corse Ferrari dropped a position soon afterwards to Gianmaria Bruni in the #47 AF Corse Ferrari. It was still within striking distance however as the hour came to a close, with the #79 Ecurie Ecosse BMW of Alexander Sims in close pursuit.

Am Cup

A short scare for class leading #24 Team Parker Racing Audi meant that their advantage disappeared completely. The car is now in second in class, a handful of seconds behind the #50 AF Corse Ferrari. Both cars have a lap advantage over the #42 Sport Garage Ferrari.